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It's Time to Make 'Orphan Soup'

By
Education & Training with Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate

Remember the old folk tale, Stone Soup, where a tired traveler offers to make 'Stone Soup' for the village if each resident will contribute one ingredient?  

 Soup wizard

At my house we call it 'Orphan Soup' because each ingredient is a leftover that has been hiding in the refrigerator or freezer.  

Sorry, I don't have a specific recipe for 'Orphan Soup' because the ingredients are just 'orphans' from the refrigerator or freezer.

 Just add any leftovers aka orphans from the freezer.  In a panic I open a can or two of veggies from the pantry.

 

 Soup bowl

 

General recipe

Broth (Beef, chicken or veggie) 

Leftover pot roast + other beef leftovers (We had kabobs recently)

Tomatoes--Today I used tomatoes from our garden, other times I use can of stewed tomatoes

Onions or onion flakes (I had frozen little green onions from our garden)

Celery leaves (I freeze celery leaves to use in soup or stew)

Parsley leaves from our garden

Minced garlic

Worchestershire Sauce 

Peppercorns & bay leaves in tea ball--remove after cooking

Veggies & more veggies  

Veggies

 Carrots, corn, peas, Limas, green beans, potatoes or barley

 Soup at Yonkers

Delicious!!

Both of my parents grew up during the Great Depression and taught us how to be frugal and not waste. Even though they are not here to enjoy a bowl of 'Orphan Soup' their spirit is with us.

 

Posted by

 ***************

Mary Yonkers

 

      I thought about a Real Estate career for 11 years before I made the decision to get my Pennsylvania Real Estate license in mid-80's.  

      Thirty years later I can say affirmatively that Real Estate has been a fantastic career. 

      Come join me in class soon. Mary Yonkers, Real Estate Instructor

 

With so many homes for sale in Erie PA, this is the right time to begin your career as a Real Estate salesperson in Erie, PA.

 2018 Alan Kells

 

 

 

www.alankells.com

Mary Yonkers, Real Estate Instructor

 

 
 Mary Yonkers Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Erie, PA

          Office:  814-835-1200 or Cell:  814-881-7548

Real Estate Classes Alan Kells Schools of Real Estate in Erie, PA  1-412-967-0240 

Real Estate Career in Erie, PA  1-814-835-1200

 

Comments (25)

Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

Love-love your Blog on "Orphan Soup" - I have never heard of that name, and who doesn't have leftovers in their frig?  We are big on veges at our house, and always have something - I will copy your recipe and going into the Fall and Winter, who wouldn't enjoy a soup with everything in it - Sign me up Mary Yonkers!! 

Sep 06, 2016 11:45 AM
Mary Yonkers

Allie Angeloni Hope you make soup in fall & enjoy.  In the meantime just freeze those veggie leftovers and defrost when you are ready to make soup.  Enjoy

Sep 06, 2016 12:25 PM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I'm pretty sure I had orphan soup and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch at school every Friday between 1st and 12th grade.

Sep 06, 2016 11:52 AM
Mary Yonkers

Oh Tammy Lankford, I remember those childhood lunches.  My mother served same meal certain days of every week. Grocery shopping must have been easier

Sep 06, 2016 12:23 PM
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Mary, This post brought back memories and made me smile. My parents are both gone now but there was a long standing story in our family that when they were first married, every Friday night my mother would take all the leftovers from the week and make soup or stew with them. (They both grew up during the Depression so were also frugal). I had forgotten that until now and will use your recipe once we have cooler weather here.

 

Sep 06, 2016 11:57 AM
Mary Yonkers

Diana Zaccaro Thanks for sharing your parents' memory.  I think the original soup/stew meal was just a way to use leftovers.  Enjoy a bowl of soup when it gets cooler

Sep 06, 2016 12:21 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Mary, I'm doing a bunch of that tomorrow!  My freezer has some great stuff in it. Waste not, want not!

Sep 06, 2016 12:43 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Sounds delicious Mary, I make something similar, but yours sounds much better with lots of things that I would not think to put in for extra seasoning.

Sep 06, 2016 12:58 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

That bowl of soup looks scrumptious, Mary!  I have been making "Orphan Soup" for years, but I didn't know that's what we were supposed to call it!

Sep 06, 2016 12:59 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Mary  I do the old clean out the fridge like you.... I like your title better vs mine I call it Garbage Soup:)) and yes I used to love the story of the Stone Soup:)Endre

Sep 06, 2016 03:49 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good morning Mary.  I'll bet it brought back fond memories of times past. 

Sep 06, 2016 08:00 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Getting creative with leftovers is a great way to make your grocery dollar go farther. 

Sep 07, 2016 07:45 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for your suggestion. I love soup.

Have a great day and an outstanding week.

Sep 08, 2016 05:39 AM
Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

A fun and useful post Mary Yonkers - thanks for sharing the recipe and the memories of your parents.

Sep 08, 2016 12:38 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

We also had a lot of soup or stew growing up so I love fixing it today. If I am making a big meal with lots of vegetables I will freeze the leftover corn, beans, carrots all together to be used later in a soup, I never freeze teh potatoes as they tend to get mealy.

I had some celery in teh fridge getting ready to go bad and knowing we wouldn't be eating it I chopped it up and froze it. I love that in my chicken soup. It is the perfect crockpot meal to come home to after a long day at work.

Sep 10, 2016 11:22 PM
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

The soup pictures looks good and hearty to me. I like a hearty soup. I like your idea of Orphan Soup. 

Sep 12, 2016 08:47 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

I never have orphan soup because we eat all of our leftovers!

Sep 13, 2016 05:40 AM
Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert
Richmond, TX

Mary,

 I have never heard it called Orphan Soup like the name, I like it I have heard of this idea just never used great idea!

Sep 14, 2016 07:37 AM
Mary Yonkers

Orphan Soup is name of my recipe for homemade veggie soup with or without meat.  I just use all my leftovers.  Sometimes I freeze the leftovers until I have enough plus the time to make pot of soup.  Each batch is a bit different because I never use same ingredients.  Thanks for visiting Yolanda Cordova-Gilbert If Texas & Pennsylvania were closer I would offer you bowl of soup

Sep 14, 2016 09:31 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Mary --- simple yet never quite the same --- I like the story of Orphan Soup --- it seems like the ultimate comfort food.  

Sep 26, 2016 12:18 AM
Kathryn .
Rentec Direct - Grants Pass, OR
Rentec Direct

My Husband and I cleaned out the refrigerator and makes some awesome soups but you never know what it is in but it is always tasty!

Oct 21, 2016 05:25 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Hi Michael Jacobs sorry I missed your comment.  Comfort food is good description.

Oct 21, 2016 08:25 AM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Kathryn S. Yes,cleaning out the refrig is great way to make soup.  Sometimes I freeze the orphans until I have time to make the next batch.  

Oct 21, 2016 08:27 AM
Jane Chaulklin-Schott
TEAMCONNECT REALTY - (407) 394-9766 - Orlando, FL
TeamConnect Luxury Homes - Orlando, Florida, 32836

Mary Yonkers , my parents lived through the Depression years and also,  WWII. Yes, our family knew bread and cheese lines and delicious nights of soups and stew dishes.  Funny thing is that we never felt deprived.  Your soup and the name are just perfect:  Orphan Soup!! 

Oct 21, 2016 03:17 PM